Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Tito Santana]

From Zero tackle, our squad signed for next year.

Wests Tigers 2026 Best 17 and Squad​

1. Jahream Bula
2. Jeral Skelton
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To'a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Jarome Luai
8. Fonua Pole
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Terrell May
11. Alex Seyfarth
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Alex Twal

Interchange
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Sione Fainu
16. Royce Hunt
17. Jack Bird

Rest of squad
18. Jayden Sullivan
19. Kit Laulilii
20. Solomone Saukuru
21. Luke Laulilii
22. Latu Fainu

Great to see alot of the patheticness not signed.

Like Tony Sukkar. That guy better be prepared to move to PNG.

 

[Buttface]

Agreed. Hes like Kirk Reynoldson. Only famous because he had a huge amount of hair and a dumb beard. Pathetic.

Like the flowing locks of some wrestlers we might know, Tito? 😎

 

[Buttface]

From Zero tackle, our squad signed for next year.

Wests Tigers 2026 Best 17 and Squad​

1. Jahream Bula
2. Jeral Skelton
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To'a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Jarome Luai
8. Fonua Pole
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Terrell May
11. Alex Seyfarth
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Alex Twal

Interchange
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Sione Fainu
16. Royce Hunt
17. Jack Bird

Rest of squad
18. Jayden Sullivan
19. Kit Laulilii
20. Solomone Saukuru
21. Luke Laulilii
22. Latu Fainu

Great to see alot of the patheticness not signed.

Like Tony Sukkar. That guy better be prepared to move to PNG.

Hopefully there’s half a dozen new names in there before 2026.

 

[Betterdays22]

From Zero tackle, our squad signed for next year.

Wests Tigers 2026 Best 17 and Squad​

1. Jahream Bula
2. Jeral Skelton
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To'a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Jarome Luai
8. Fonua Pole
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Terrell May
11. Alex Seyfarth
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Alex Twal

Interchange
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Sione Fainu
16. Royce Hunt
17. Jack Bird

Rest of squad
18. Jayden Sullivan
19. Kit Laulilii
20. Solomone Saukuru
21. Luke Laulilii
22. Latu Fainu

Great to see alot of the patheticness not signed.

Like Tony Sukkar. That guy better be prepared to move to PNG.

Good side, with 2 or 3 signings it is a genuine contender. Think Masi needs to do it the old fashion way though (through the grades)

 

[JB9918]

From Zero tackle, our squad signed for next year.

Wests Tigers 2026 Best 17 and Squad​

1. Jahream Bula
2. Jeral Skelton
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To'a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Jarome Luai
8. Fonua Pole
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Terrell May
11. Alex Seyfarth
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Alex Twal

Interchange
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Sione Fainu
16. Royce Hunt
17. Jack Bird

Rest of squad
18. Jayden Sullivan
19. Kit Laulilii
20. Solomone Saukuru
21. Luke Laulilii
22. Latu Fainu

Great to see alot of the patheticness not signed.

Like Tony Sukkar. That guy better be prepared to move to PNG.

Luke Luailli doesn't have a contact for 2026 I believe.

Tony Sukkar has a club option for 2026. So that's on us to activate.

Should be 21 players signed but I could be wrong.

 

[weststigers]

From Zero tackle, our squad signed for next year.

Wests Tigers 2026 Best 17 and Squad​

1. Jahream Bula
2. Jeral Skelton
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To'a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Jarome Luai
8. Fonua Pole
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Terrell May
11. Alex Seyfarth
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Alex Twal

Interchange
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Sione Fainu
16. Royce Hunt
17. Jack Bird

Rest of squad
18. Jayden Sullivan
19. Kit Laulilii
20. Solomone Saukuru
21. Luke Laulilii
22. Latu Fainu

Great to see alot of the patheticness not signed.

Like Tony Sukkar. That guy better be prepared to move to PNG.

Given the depth here, maybe Dom Young is a chance?...Naden and Staines will go. I think To'a will get a renewal, but with Luke there, we probably don't need the extra winger.

As for the rest, we have a pile of money to spend. There should be some good players added for next year you'd think.

 

[TV Ted Ellery]

Luke Luailli doesn't have a contact for 2026 I believe.

Tony Sukkar has a club option for 2026. So that's on us to activate.

Should be 21 players signed but I could be wrong.

Mighty midgets Luke and Kit are in the top 30 for this season and next: https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2024/07/10/local-junior-moves-into-nrl-top-30/

Luke has a high ceiling if we can manage his development properly. Kit has plateaued though with a full season in KOE and better stamina, he could have a role to play as an impact forward next year.

 

[mtd#2]

Yea, Reynolds would make sense... But Des has the relationship with DCE.

I can't see Des going all out for Reynolds. Although yea, it may be the consolidation prize.

DCE -> chooks, I can't see it. I also can't see him selling his house to move from Manly to Eastern Suburbs...


Des will make a big offer for DCE and likely get him. But yea, the failure option is Adam Reynolds...IMHO a pretty decent failure option at that.

Lol Why would he move? It's a 40 minute drive...

 

[Roar_Power]

Given the depth here, maybe Dom Young is a chance?...Naden and Staines will go. I think To'a will get a renewal, but with Luke there, we probably don't need the extra winger.

As for the rest, we have a pile of money to spend. There should be some good players added for next year you'd think.

He can take Saukuru's position in the top 30. Need to pay this guy out...

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

What’s the fascination with Tyrone. Average at best. There’s a reason he is where he is.

He would be an ideal to have in the top 30 roster as backup half & potentially halves/lock utility. Every club needs backups and with his experience & skill would be good. Plus the impact it could have on the 'teamfirst' brotherhood culture is also an untangible benefit.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

He can take Saukuru's position in the top 30. Need to pay this guy out...

Worth keeping Saukuru as position 29/30 in the squad. He would be on minimum wage and actually has the ability to be a depth wing/centre option next season. He's only 20/21, has size, skill, just has to knuckle down in fitness & effort areas. Every squad needs some minimum wage players.

 

[Jimmy]

Announcing both KPP and Young would be great for the fans….yes they have their issues in effort and defence but their attack is simply fantastic.

Looks like we have the right leaders in our team to help get the best out of them also. (Never would I ever think I’d say that). Luai and API have been fantastic buys for our culture.

 

[Moh]

We absolutely do not need Dom Young - don't rate him that highly, definitely a good value buy given Roosters will be chipping; but with Skelton and Turuva on the wings, with Luke L and Makasini as emerging depth (with the latter likely being a starter in the next year or so)... we just don't need another starting winger.

For him to come here, it'd mean one of Skelton, Turuva or him will be in reserves. And there's no way any of them would be happy to do that.

 

[Moh]

I'm guessing our signing announcements are next week, either a cheer up after being clapped by the Storm, or a huge buzz following the clubs best ever victory.

 

[jrtiger]

We absolutely do not need Dom Young - don't rate him that highly, definitely a good value buy given Roosters will be chipping; but with Skelton and Turuva on the wings, with Luke L and Makasini as emerging depth (with the latter likely being a starter in the next year or so)... we just don't need another starting winger.

For him to come here, it'd mean one of Skelton, Turuva or him will be in reserves. And there's no way any of them would be happy to do that.

paying $200k for Dom Young is something you simply don't pass up. he is exceptional value at that price point.

I was wary of signing him before it was made known how much the Roosters would chip in. giving Luke time isn't necessarily a bad thing, and you just ensure Masi is aware that he's first drop for Doueihi and that's his spot long term.

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

paying $200k for Dom Young is something you simply don't pass up. he is exceptional value at that price point.

I was wary of signing him before it was made known how much the Roosters would chip in. giving Luke time isn't necessarily a bad thing, and you just ensure Masi is aware that he's first drop for Doueihi and that's his spot long term.

Interesting from Gus ...

According to Phil Gould, there is a belief from Young himself that he is playing out of position and wants to test himself in the centres - something that appears incredibly unlikely at the Chooks with Billy Smith and Robert Toia on the scene.

"That's been bubbling away for a while," Gould said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles With Gus on Wednesday morning.

"He's a talent - but Dom Young thinks he's a centre. He would prefer to play in the centres and he's never really enjoyed playing on the wing.

"I don't think he likes fielding high kicks, I don't think he likes to be exposed defensively out there. I don't know with the high work rate of wingers these days, he feels like it dulls him a little bit in some of the other things he can do.

"Being such a tall fella with long levers, he felt that he could feed wingers rather than running onto the ball and he himself has always wanted to play centre.

"I would imagine they might be looking for somewhere where he can have a positional change and play centre - there's a tip for you."

The moment that all-but ended star's Roosters tenure

As surprise positional theory floated

www.nine.com.au

 

[Tiger Stripes]

From Zero tackle, our squad signed for next year.

Wests Tigers 2026 Best 17 and Squad​

1. Jahream Bula
2. Jeral Skelton
3. Heamasi Makasini
4. Starford To'a
5. Sunia Turuva
6. Lachlan Galvin
7. Jarome Luai
8. Fonua Pole
9. Apisai Koroisau
10. Terrell May
11. Alex Seyfarth
12. Samuela Fainu
13. Alex Twal

Interchange
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Sione Fainu
16. Royce Hunt
17. Jack Bird

Rest of squad
18. Jayden Sullivan
19. Kit Laulilii
20. Solomone Saukuru
21. Luke Laulilii
22. Latu Fainu

Great to see alot of the patheticness not signed.

Like Tony Sukkar. That guy better be prepared to move to PNG.

Can't see Heamasi Makasini there 2026. Still very young.
IMO a nice kid with no mongrel yet to be an aggressive centre next tear.
Needs another year of defence experience and hard knocks to develop.

 

[liltiger]

Hopefully there’s half a dozen new names in there before 2026.

Richo and the club should be announcing the new signings he mentioned on James Graham's pod in the next week or so, he should be back from the wedding in England over the weekend, maybe an announcement early next week. Not sure if the new additions are depth signings or established first graders. Imo though If they were only depth signings why even bring it up on the pod. They must be first grade quality.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Interesting from Gus ...

According to Phil Gould, there is a belief from Young himself that he is playing out of position and wants to test himself in the centres - something that appears incredibly unlikely at the Chooks with Billy Smith and Robert Toia on the scene.

"That's been bubbling away for a while," Gould said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles With Gus on Wednesday morning.

"He's a talent - but Dom Young thinks he's a centre. He would prefer to play in the centres and he's never really enjoyed playing on the wing.

"I don't think he likes fielding high kicks, I don't think he likes to be exposed defensively out there. I don't know with the high work rate of wingers these days, he feels like it dulls him a little bit in some of the other things he can do.

"Being such a tall fella with long levers, he felt that he could feed wingers rather than running onto the ball and he himself has always wanted to play centre.

"I would imagine they might be looking for somewhere where he can have a positional change and play centre - there's a tip for you."

The moment that all-but ended star's Roosters tenure

As surprise positional theory floated

www.nine.com.au

I think he is wrong. He is a 5/8 or halfback, he owes it to his bank account!

 

[batboy]

Interesting from Gus ...

According to Phil Gould, there is a belief from Young himself that he is playing out of position and wants to test himself in the centres - something that appears incredibly unlikely at the Chooks with Billy Smith and Robert Toia on the scene.

"That's been bubbling away for a while," Gould said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles With Gus on Wednesday morning.

"He's a talent - but Dom Young thinks he's a centre. He would prefer to play in the centres and he's never really enjoyed playing on the wing.

"I don't think he likes fielding high kicks, I don't think he likes to be exposed defensively out there. I don't know with the high work rate of wingers these days, he feels like it dulls him a little bit in some of the other things he can do.

"Being such a tall fella with long levers, he felt that he could feed wingers rather than running onto the ball and he himself has always wanted to play centre.

"I would imagine they might be looking for somewhere where he can have a positional change and play centre - there's a tip for you."

The moment that all-but ended star's Roosters tenure

As surprise positional theory floated

www.nine.com.au

May well be right
- But it seems like a total cop out for me from a bloke who's playing like a Busted.
He's played in 2 Competitions over 6 or more years, Even Internationally - Only ever on the Wing.

He's never played Centre - He wouldn't know what it's like to know he wants to do it.
I can promise him now, If he's worried his Defence on the wing makes him look like an Idiot
He'll be wearing a clown suit at Centre.